Column: A Visit to Veneto

Bloomington’s proximity to Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago and other large Midwestern cities makes it a great place to start a road trip. While I’m not sure how safe it is for me to drive a car in Italy, I do know trains are a convenient for weekend getaways. (Don’t think I was above talking in a British accent before being silenced by my colleagues. Harry Potter anyone?)

If I told you I’d recently visited the capital of the Veneto region in northern Italy, how would you react? I played this very trick on my family, only to receive emails about how neat it was I got to see one of the little towns of Italy. Unbeknownst to my parents and probably you at this point, this “little town” was none other than Venice.

With nicknames like “The Floating City” and “City of Water,” Venice is known around the world for its canal system. Dating back to its inception as a city-state in the ninth century, it was known for its famous leaders and wartime battles. Today, however, the city factors less into politics and more into tourism.

The people of Venice wanted a symbol to boast the wealth and prestige their city had earned from maritime trade. This symbol evolved into a residence that found its home in the now famous Piazza San Marco.

Located in the safe but ominous-sounding south central neighborhood of Venice is the Palazzo Ducale. Known as “The Doge’s Palace” in English, this sprawling example of Gothic architecture housed both the city’s government and the Doge. A figurehead for the newly formed Republic, the Doge was mostly a symbolic, city-elected figure who had virtually no responsibilities. He served mainly as a representative of Venice to foreign dignitaries who stayed at the majestic home while visiting.

The beginning phases of the palace were commissioned by Filippo Calendario, a well-known sculptor and architect who was later sentenced to death because of his affiliation with Marino Faliero. Faliero was the 55th Doge and was sentenced to treason for trying to give himself absolute power.

Hundreds of years after its completion, the palace is known today as a tourist attraction that draws international visitors. The palace’s interior features the notable “Scala d’Oro,” or golden staircase, and the Sala del Maggior Consiglio — Hall of the Great Council.

What else is in Piazza San Marco?

St. Mark’s Basilica is home to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. With Byzantine architecture on the exterior of the church’s large domes and rich mosaics depicting stories from the Bible on the interior, this church is a lasting tourist stop in the principal piazza of the city.

For those uninterested in visiting these historic sites, the piazza is home to hundreds of pigeons. With a baguette of bread and a fully charged camera, its possible to have fun without stepping foot inside a landmark.

­— johnsbrl@indiana.edu